The latest Virginia Beach Chesapeake Bay fishing report. It is that striped bass time of year. Resident striped bass have been around in good numbers. Most any structure with a light on it has been holding striped bass and speckled trout. Most bass are too small to keep but, keepers are being caught everywhere. The largest fish have been coming from the York and James Rivers where rockfish to 38 inches have been caught. More medium-sized fish are showing up throughout the bay and the CBBT tunnel is holding some fish. This fishery will continue to improve as the water continues to cool and the large fish migrate down from their summer haunts.

Other than striped bass, speckled trout and puppy drum have been keeping anglers entertained. There have been a lot of small fish around but as the season has progressed, more have reached keeper-size. They are being caught on the flats, up in the creeks, rivers, and inlets and form the fishing piers.

Tautog action is excellent at the CBBT and over other bay structures. Sheepshead should be gone but a few big sheepshead continue to be caught. This latest cold snap may be what finally moves them out but right now, they are still a possibility.

The coastal wrecks are holding sea bass, triggerfish, flounder, bluefish and some big sandtigers. Offshore bottom fishing is very good for tilefish. The sea bass season is open through the end of December so the sea bass by-catch is a bonus and the dogfish have not shown up yet.

There has not been much tuna action out of Virginia though there is some water east of the Cigar that should be holding some fish. Boats sailing out of Oregon Inlet are catching yellowfin tuna and wahoo. Boats leaving out of Hatteras are catching king mackerel, wahoo and blackfin tuna. Bluefin tuna should be showing up off of our coast soon.

Captain Max King will be the speaker at the November 15 PSWSFA meeting. He will be talking about catching jumbo striped bass. Meetings are free and you do not need to be a member to attend: www.pswsfa.com/meetings.htm

The club’s Irv Fenton Memorial Rockfish Tournament, sponsored by Wilcox Bait & Tackle, begins on December 1 and will run through the entire month of December.

Tune in next week to get the latest Virginia Beach fishing report. Until then, Tight lines!